The latest incidents unfolded Wednesday night in the San Fernando Valley, where burglars hit homes in Studio City and Toluca Lake and targeted a commercial property in a separate theft that led to a police chase.<\/p>\n
The violence escalated Thursday night when a woman in her 70s was strangled during a home invasion<\/a> in the Hollywood Hills, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. The suspects, described as at least two masked men, fled with cash and jewelry and remain on the run.<\/p>\n Those break-ins are the most recent in a pattern that began around April 10, with similar crimes reported across Sherman Oaks, Encino, North Hollywood and surrounding communities, in some cases with homes hit within minutes of each other.<\/p>\n HOMEOWNERS IN LEAFY ENCLAVES HIT BY BURGLARS ZEROING IN ON HIGH-END HOMES FOR SMASH-AND-GRAB SCORES<\/a><\/p>\n Homes in the Hollywood Hills, where a woman in her 70s was strangled during a home invasion amid a broader burglary spree targeting affluent Los Angeles neighborhoods. (Allen J. Schaben \/ Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)<\/p>\n \u2018They\u2019re looking at opportunity \u2014 not zip codes\u2019<\/p>\n Former LAPD investigator Moses Castillo said the scope and speed of the crimes point to a broader shift in how burglars are operating.<\/p>\n Police car parked outside Los Angeles home after reported burglary attempt at night (RMG NEWS)<\/p>\n “We used to think high-end neighborhoods were exempt from crime…that\u2019s no longer the case,” Castillo told Fox News Digital. “You\u2019re not safe anywhere anymore, especially in affluent areas.”<\/p>\n “These criminals aren\u2019t looking at zip codes \u2014 they\u2019re looking at opportunity.”<\/p>\n Highly organized and doing their homework<\/p>\n Castillo said the pattern suggests many of these burglars are strategic, often researching homes and victims in advance.<\/p>\n “They\u2019re doing their homework \u2014 tracking patterns, watching when people are home or away,” he said.<\/p>\n That preparation, Castillo said, can start online.<\/p>\n “If you\u2019re posting your valuables, your lifestyle<\/a>…you\u2019re making yourself a target,” Castillo warned. “If you can find your information online, so can they.”<\/p>\n LAPD officers investigate a burglary scene outside a Los Angeles home. (RMG NEWS)<\/p>\n He added that some crews use lookouts and real-time communication to move quickly and avoid police detection.<\/p>\n Why the crimes keep spreading<\/p>\n The pattern of burglaries across multiple neighborhoods may reflect how suspects adapt when enforcement intensifies.<\/p>\n TECH-SAVVY THIEVES EXPLOIT OBITS, ONLINE POSTS TO STRIKE HOMES WHILE FAMILIES GRIEVE, EXPERT WARNS<\/a><\/p>\n “These crime waves last as long as the suspects are still out there,” Castillo said. “If an area gets too hot, they just move to the next neighborhood<\/a>.”<\/p>\n That mobility may help explain why communities across the Valley have continued to see break-ins, even as patrols increase.<\/p>\n A violation that goes beyond theft<\/p>\n For victims, the impact goes far beyond stolen property<\/a>.<\/p>\n “People describe this as a \u2018house rape<\/a>\u2019 \u2014 a complete violation of their home,” Castillo said. “It\u2019s not just about what\u2019s taken. It\u2019s that someone invaded your sanctuary.”<\/p>\n LAPD officers investigate the scene of an armed robbery at a home in Hollywood Hills, Calif., on Nov. 24, 2022. (KTTV)<\/p>\n He said many victims struggle to feel safe again after a break-in, with some choosing to leave their homes altogether.<\/p>\n Risk of escalation<\/p>\n Castillo warned the danger increases if homeowners encounter suspects during a burglary.<\/p>\n “If you walk in during a burglary, you can become a victim of violence,” Castillo said. “These crimes can escalate \u2014 home invasions, assaults, even kidnappings<\/a>.”<\/p>\n He also described cases in which suspects used a ruse to get victims to open the door.<\/p>\n RESIDENTS IN EXCLUSIVE ENCLAVE DEMAND DEM MAYOR ACT ON CRIME SURGE<\/a><\/p>\n “They\u2019ll use a ruse… knock on the door, get you to open it and then it\u2019s over,” he said.<\/p>\n Police response and pressure to stop the spree<\/p>\n The LAPD has increased patrols, deployed air support and license plate readers, and expanded coordination across units in response to the spike.<\/p>\n GOT A TIP?<\/a><\/p>\n L.A. Mayor Karen Bass said “the safety of every Angeleno is my number one priority.” (Irfan Khan \/ Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)<\/p>\n Mayor Karen Bass said the city is taking a zero-tolerance approach.<\/p>\n FOLLOW US ON X<\/a><\/p>\n “The safety of every Angeleno is my number one priority,” Bass said. “The City has zero tolerance for these recent burglaries.”<\/p>\n But despite the increased presence, the break-ins have continued, leaving residents on edge.<\/p>\n GET BREAKING NEWS BY EMAIL<\/a><\/p>\n What it will take to stop it<\/p>\n Castillo said enforcement alone will not be enough to stop the spree.<\/p>\n “Police can\u2019t do it alone, it\u2019s going to take the community,” he said. “If you see something, even if you\u2019re not sure, call it in. That could be the break that blows the case wide open.”<\/p>\n CLICK HERE FOR MORE US NEWS<\/a><\/p>\n What residents can do now<\/p>\n As the spree stretches across multiple communities, Castillo said homeowners should take extra precautions.<\/p>\n “Don\u2019t rely solely on cameras or basic alarm systems,” he cautioned, warning that some burglars may cut power and compromise them<\/a>. “Be vigilant.”<\/p>\n![\"Hollywood](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/hollywood-hills-home-invasion-burglary-los-angeles-affluent-neighborhood.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"Police](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/lapd-response-westwood-home-break-in-night.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"LAPD](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/los-angeles-police-burglary-scene-investigation.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"LAPD](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Social-media-influencer-robbed-during-home-invasion-in-Hollywood-Hills.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"L.A.](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-1605586797.jpg\")
<\/p>\n